Italy is no longer among the top ten powerhouses of world football. With the official FIFA ranking update, the national team slips to eleventh place, overtaken by Germany and Croatia. This is yet another clear sign that the Azzurri's rebuilding journey is far from complete and that recent international results continue to take their toll.
Argentina, the reigning world champions, remains firmly at the top of the world rankings, ahead of a Spain in great form and a consistently competitive France. England and Brazil follow them, while Portugal takes the headlines, climbing to sixth place after their Nations League triumph. They are followed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany , and, in tenth place, a solid and clinical Croatia.
For the Azzurri, this is a symbolic but also substantial downgrade: losing ground in the rankings means facing tougher opponents in future draws, as well as confirming the ups and downs of recent years. Costa Rica also made positive headlines, climbing 14 spots to XNUMXth, confirming how balance and unpredictability now dominate the international football landscape.
This is news that gives pause for thought about the state of Italian football. Despite its efforts, the national team hasn't regained its place among the top teams, and the results speak for themselves. Urgent change is needed to regain competitiveness.